60 Minutes’ Hatchet Job

How I wish Ambassador Oren would have replied to Bob Simon’s bias against Israel.

The anti-Israel media crusade hit high gear this week as the CBS News program 60 Minutes aired a piece declaring that Christians are leaving the West Bank, and that somehow it’s all Israel's fault. (Watch the video. Read the transcript.)

As someone who’s spent years monitoring the media, this segment was, unfortunately, typical of what I’d come to expect from 60 Minutes – a report filled with distortion of facts, selective omission, and lack of context.

Yet what really struck me is the personal vendetta that reporter Bob Simon appears to have against Israel.

When Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, got a tip that 60 Minutes was planning a distorted report, he phoned the head of CBS News to complain about what was shaping up to be "a hatchet job."

When Simon found out about this, he called in Oren for an interview. Then, with a contorted expression and a voice dripping with disdain, Simon publicly scolded Ambassador Oren:

60 Minutes: Mr. Ambassador, I've been doing this a long time. And I've received lots of reactions from just about everyone I've done stories about. But I've never gotten a reaction before from a story that hasn't been broadcast yet.

Oren was stuck in a hard place. He surely wanted to take off the gloves and duke it out with Simon. But as a diplomat, he had to offer this mild, diplomatic response:

Ambassador: Well, there's a first time for everything, Bob.

This got me thinking. Imagine how this interview would have played out, in a perfect world where the truth can be freely spoken. What if we replay the tape for my “imagined” version of this conversation, were Ambassador Oren able to say what he really wanted.

60 Minutes: Mr. Ambassador… I've never gotten a reaction before from a story that hasn't been broadcast yet.

Ambassador: Well in this case, Bob, it was totally justified. The record shows you to be a virulent critic of the State of Israel. Recall your 60 Minutes report from January 2009 – “Time Running Out for a Two-State Solution?” – in which you invoked the worst demonizing terms, suggesting that Israel practices “ethnic cleansing” and “apartheid.”

60 Minutes: Surely you can’t make a judgment based on a single example.

Ambassador: Actually, Bob, it’s a pattern. Remember your December 2003 piece for 60 Minutes – “The Fence” – where you falsely charged that the West Bank security barrier appropriates “large chunks of Palestinian land.” We all know that the real figure is about 8%. And who can forget you gloating over the incident with 12-year-old Muhammad al-Dura, calling it “one of the most disastrous setbacks Israel has suffered in decades” (“The Crossroad,” 60 Minutes, November 12, 2000).

Ambassador: I will let the record speak for itself. Just over a year ago Leslie Stahl’s 60 Minutes piece on the City of David described Israel's legitimate search for archeological artifacts as "controversial," and termed teaching Jews about their historical roots in Jerusalem as "indoctrination."

And this pattern goes all the way back to the early days of 60 Minutes when Mike Wallace visited Syria. He reported that “life for Syria’s Jews is better than it was in years past,” and that assertions of mistreatment are mere “Zionist propaganda.” (“Israel’s Toughest Enemy,” February 1975). Shortly thereafter, nearly every Syrian Jew fled the country in fear. A decade later, Wallace repeated his disinformation in reporting that Soviet Jews “live more or less satisfying lives.” More than a million Soviet Jews disagreed and emigrated the first chance they had.

So yes, Bob, based on all the available information, I have good reason to believe that your upcoming segment will be "a hatchet job."

Note that Simon’s actual conversation with Ambassador Oren did not deal with the accuracy of these indictments, but rather focused exclusively on Simon's personal insult upon learning of the complaint. This was a lame attempt to throw up a smokescreen, to divert attention from the real issue – Simon’s biased reporting.

Just the Facts

Let’s continue our make-believe conversation, imagining that Bob Simon sincerely does explore the topic of Christians in the West Bank.

60 Minutes: Ambassador, surely you do not deny that the Christian population in the West Bank is weakening.

Ambassador: You’re right about that, Bob. But let’s examine who is to blame for this.

60 Minutes: Fair enough. Let’s start by looking at how Christians are treated in the State of Israel. What can you tell us about that?

Ambassador: Statistics show that the Christian population in Israel was 34,000 in 1949, 73,000 in 1972, and 153,000 in 2008. Israel is the only country in the Middle East where the Christian population has increased since 1948 – having risen by more than 400 percent, and continuing to rise every year. Christians today are prominent in all aspects of Israeli life – serving in the Knesset, the Supreme Court, and in a variety of business and cultural roles.

The 60 Minutes report, however, made not a single mention of the growing Christian population in Israel.

Our imaginary conversation continues.

60 Minutes: To be fair we would have to comparehow Christians are treated in a region governed solely by Muslims. The rest of the Middle East should provide a good benchmark.

Ambassador: Outside of Israel, the Middle East is characterized by widespread “de-Christianization.” In recent years hundreds of thousands of Christians have fled Iraq, with 70 churches burned and nearly a thousand Christians killed in Baghdad alone. In Egypt, 200,000 Coptic Christians fled their homes last year after beatings and massacres by Muslim extremist mobs. Turkey, regarded as a moderate Islamic state, has seen its Christian population decline 100-fold in the last century. In Saudi Arabia, the practice of Christianity is plain illegal, and the highest Muslim authority in Saudi Arabia recently called for the demolition of all churches in the Middle East.

60 Minutes: Perhaps other Arab countries do not tell us specifically how Christians are treated by Palestinian Muslims. Let’s look at an area administered totally by Palestinians – the Gaza Strip, from which Israel withdrew in 2005.

Ambassador: For starters, in 2007, the manager of Gaza’s only Christian bookstore was kidnapped and murdered – shot in the head and stabbed multiple times. Palestinian gunmen also blew up the YMCA library in the Gaza Strip; two guards were kidnapped, the offices were looted and all 8,000 books were destroyed.

It comes as no surprise that following the Hamas takeover in 2006, the Christian population of Gaza fell by 64 percent – from 5,000 to less than 1,800 in 2010. When four masked gunmen tried to abduct a church employee in Gaza, a local Christian leader lamented how the incident is “aimed at sending a message to all the Christians here that we must leave. Radical Islamic groups are waging a campaign to get rid of us and no one seems to care.”

At this point, things don’t look so good for Bob Simon. Here’s what I imagine happens next:

60 Minutes: Enough of this beating around the bush, Ambassador. Let’s just go straight to the West Bank.Is it not true thatBethlehem, “the little town where Christ was born,” is "an open air prison”? Is it not true that “Christians now make up only 18 percent of what was for centuries an overwhelmingly Christian town”? (Editor’s note: the words in quotes were said by Simon in the actual 60 Minutes report.)

Ambassador: In Bethlehem, the Christian population began to drastically decline in 1995, the same year the Palestinian Authority assumed administrative control. The PA unilaterally annexed an additional 30,000 Muslims to Bethlehem and then redistricted the municipal boundaries – ensuring a Muslim majority in any future elections. In order to further freeze Christians out of the Palestinian political process, a 2007 Palestinian summit was intentionally held in Mecca, a city where Christians (and all non-Muslims, for that matter) are barred by law from entering.

Under Palestinian control, the de-Christianization of Bethlehem has been ruthless. A Greek Orthodox monastery next to the Church of the Nativity was confiscated and converted into the PA president’s official residence. Bethlehem Christians were forced to shut down businesses after failing to pay “protection money” to local Muslims. This campaign took another nasty turn in 2006 when Bethlehem City Council member Hassan El-Masalmeh publicly advocated a discriminatory “dhimmi tax” on non-Muslim residents. Not surprisingly, Christians in Bethlehem and neighboring Beit Jala are fleeing in large numbers; after once comprising 60-70 percent of the city’s population, they have now dwindled to 15 percent.

And let us not forget how, in 2002, a group of 128 armed Palestinians invaded Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity – holding 40 Christian clergy hostage, stealing gold objects from the monks and urinating on the church floor. Within a few years, the Palestinian takeover of the church had been all but erased from history; your 60 Minutes segment, Bob, makes zero mention of that appalling episode.

60 Minutes: I am planning to post an online-only segment of 60 Minutes focusing on Taybeh, the West Bank city known to be predominantly Christian.

Ambassador: Then surely you know about the horrific events that took place in Taybeh in 2005, when hundreds of Muslims screaming Allahu Akbar carried out a pogrom against Christians – setting dozens of homes and businesses on fire, looting valuables, and destroying Christian icons. And you surely know that in 2009, Muslims attacked two Christian cemeteries in a West Bank village near Ramallah, desecrating 70 graves and decapitating a statue of the Virgin Mary.

Simon’sidea of "balanced reporting" was to interview six Palestinians and – aside from Oren – only one Israeli, a correspondent for the left-leaning Haaretz. Nor was any voice allotted to the tens of millions of pro-Zionist Christians in America and around the world. All six Palestinians were critical of Israel; that’s probably because Christian Arabs who speak up against their Muslim oppressors fear they'll wind up on an Internet video, wearing a hood and surrounded by chainsaw-wielding jihadists.

Indeed, with skillful editing and a hand-picked cadre of anti-Israel activists, 60 Minutes managed to contradict every Israeli claim. When Michael Oren asserted the simple fact that Palestinian Muslims place “major duress” on Palestinian Christians, 60 Minutes cut to an interview with Zahi Khouri, a Palestinian businessman who owns the West Bank Coca-Cola franchise. “I've never heard that someone is leaving because of Islamic persecution,” Khouri managed to say with a straight face – and Bob Simon let it stand unchallenged.

Driving the Wedge

All this leaves us with the question of: Why? Even if Simon harbors some personal disdain for Israel, what would motivate 60 Minutes to present Israel’s relationship with Palestinian Christians in such a negative light?

There is only one explanation: 60 Minutes is out to damage Israel’s image in the Christian community.

Evangelical Christians take seriously the biblical promise that Israel belongs to the Jews as an everlasting possession.

In the face of anti-Israel attacks – whether in the form of U.N. censure or media condemnations – one of the strongest bastions of support is America’s evangelical community. These Christians take seriously the biblical promise that the Holy Land belongs to the Jews as an everlasting possession. And when Israel is under siege, they promote pro-Israel political views and donate untold millions of dollars toward pro-Israel causes– acting in accord with Isaiah’s prophetic imperative: "For Zion's sake I will not keep silent; for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet" (Isaiah 62:1).

So for those seeking to weaken support for Israel, a primary tactic is to drive a wedge between the Jewish state and the pro-Israel Christian community.

Bob Simon actually says as much. In speaking with Oren, Simon declared: “Do you think the Israeli government ever thinks of the fact that if Christians aren't being treated well here, and America is an overwhelmingly Christian country, that this could have consequences?”

Watching 60 Minutes, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Israel is the Mideast’s worst offender. It’s all part of the media’s efforts to drive a wedge between Israel and the Christian community, further demonizing Israel and eroding its support in the West.

The end of this story? 60 Minutes was flooded with complaints – from both private individuals and organization such as ADL. When the pro-Israel group Christians United for Israel (CUFI) notified its membership about the 60 Minutes piece, a CBS spokesman told the Washington Post that the complaints “number a few hundred.” Internet logs, however, show that in one 24-hour period, CUFI members actually sent 29,602 email complaints.

In its efforts to demonize Israel, CBS has crossed another line. No longer is this merely an issue of selective omission and lack of context. Now it is an outright denial of the facts.

This is an outrage, a violation of the core trust between 60 Minutes and its 13 million viewers.

But there is something you can do. Contact 60 Minutes executives, expressing your disappointment at this gross violation of media objectivity. And as always, please keep your comments respectful.

About the Author

Rabbi Shraga Simmons is the co-founder of Aish.com, and co-author of "48 Ways to Wisdom" (ArtScroll). He is Founder and Director of Aish.com's advanced learning site. He is co-founder of HonestReporting.com, and author of "David & Goliath", the definitive account of anti-Israel media bias. Originally from Buffalo, New York, he holds a degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, and rabbinic ordination from the Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem. He lives with his wife and children in the Modi'in region of Israel.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 69

(51)
Jack Friedstein,
May 10, 2012 9:12 PM

friedstein@sbcglobal.net

I totally agree with the remarks citing the media as being terribly biased agaainst Israel. It is something I do not understand. Like the old saying goes when they come for you, who will be there to fight for you? Certainly not the likes of a Bob Simon person. Jacob F

(50)
beverly rosenthal,
May 7, 2012 9:51 PM

upset to know of 60 minutes bias against Israel

why is reporting of 60 minutes anti Israel?

(49)
Miriam Harpaz,
May 4, 2012 3:27 PM

Bob Simons Hatchet Job

My husband and I were stunned by this 60 Minutes show. My husband had said that some of the 60 Minutes broadcasters like Mike Wallace (May he rest in Peace) and others have been known for their Diaspora mentality and not being fair to Israel. Why have not have a program about the Copts being massacred in Cairo because it would hurt their Arab Spring by the way which is fast becoming Muslim Brotherhood summer.

(48)
Gary Fisher,
May 4, 2012 2:55 AM

It's Official: Bin Laden declares CBS "close to being 'unbiased'."

The Guardian newspaper in the UK has just released a report on Osama Bin Laden's high opinion of CBS news. He obviously was a big fan of Bob Simon. See http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/may/03/al-quaida-cunning-methods-us-news.

(47)
Nancy,
May 3, 2012 11:23 PM

Not the first time

I do not understand why 60 Minutes continually spouts its hatred for Israel. They have had other segments with similar presentations making Israel look like the "Bad Guy." Would Mike Wallace, one of the show's founding members and a Jewish man besides, have approved of all this vitriol against this country that has continually given so much to the world? Shame on them!

miriam,
May 6, 2012 6:26 AM

Are you kidding?

Nancy...Pah-lease! Would Mike Wallace have approved? He was a self-hating, self-effacing Jew as is Bob Simon and so many others like Baba Walters!.. They are more interested in their own careers taking off and staying up in the stratosphere than being honest about "Jewish" things. They are as far away from their Jewish roots as Jews can be. They go beyond being fair, they go to the extreme to favor the other side. This is seen with many written journalists, too...especially in the NY Times...but other papers, too. Their careers come before Judaism, Israel or anything Jewish. Sad but true!

(46)
Troy Iseger,
May 2, 2012 1:54 AM

long live Israel

Ive seen some rubbish but 60 minutes take the cake why dont they say we hate Jews and Israel.This is Islamic lies is this guy a muslim, i am a goy and i love Israel and i love the the fact that the Bible is written by Jews and Jesus was Jewish and G-D never breaks a promise (TO THE G-D OF ABRAHAM,ISAAC AND JACOB BLESSED BE HIS HOLY NAME)Ps Am Israel Khi.

(45)
Nathan Rosenblatt,
May 1, 2012 7:19 PM

For Shame!!

My wife and I have watched 60 Minutes for many years. The Bob Simon interview with the Israeli Ambassador is chilling - that in the name of "fairness" Bob Simon would so brazenly exhibit his anti-Israeli prejudice!!
Ex-viewer of 60 Minutes

(44)
Simone Watson,
May 1, 2012 1:23 AM

Sent email to CBS 60 min. that Israel in NOT anti-christian

I am a christian and visited Israel March 2012 and toured the entire state and Israel in NOT anti-christian. May GOD bless Israel always!!!

(43)
brett,
April 30, 2012 8:49 PM

revised history

i watched the 60 minutes reporting. I'm so thankful Rabbi Simmons would write this response. Everyone should be encouraged to follow the Rabbi's example. Do not believe history that has been revised or edited. My understanding of Christianity and Judaism must be formed on historical truth. That takes a lot of work these days. Jerusalem and Israel belong to God and by covenant agreement they are Israel's now and forever.

(42)
yehoshua-quintin burbank,
April 30, 2012 5:29 PM

deciet and lies instead of honest and truthful news

at one time i thought 60 min. was a revolutionary news vehicle for change and truth, and like others i was gravely disappointed in its overtly anti-Semitic,anti-Israeli,anti-Jewish,and racist sentiments. I will not stand by idly they blame Israel and it's policies as the reason for the decline of the christian population in muslim controlled areas. despite the history between jews and Christians, the modern incarnation has always been supportive of its christian citizens unlike their islamic counterparts throughout the region. i have finally divorced 60 Minutes, never again. 60 min. appears more like a propaganda tool bent on the destruction of isreal.

(41)
clarence,
April 30, 2012 3:22 PM

palestinian christians decline

Bob Simon is simply a fool and anti Israeli. He should have gone to Mecca and demanded the imams into saying why no churches can be built in that city . Why could he go and ask Saudi brutes why the Jewish foundations of medina have been totally forgotten - wiped off the history books after the so-called prophet went on a rampage slaughtering all the Jews. Nah, because Israel is a civilized country it is easy to accuse them of everything. Whenever journalist like Bob Simon condemns Israel, it just exposes what spineless coward and fools they really are, because the perpetrators of hatred and Islamic-based terrorism he will never question. Bob, over 2 million Christians were murdered in Sudan last year alone, plus what happened in Nigeria recently. Go question those who carry this slaughter of Christians. Nah...

Anonymous,
May 6, 2012 6:35 AM

And what is the one country that took those in who were not slaughtered along the way?

ISRAEL!!! And now the U.N. has the chutzpah to TELL Israel, a sovereign nation, that they shouldn't deport those Africans whom they took in temporarily to help them get on their feet, because Israel cannot afford to keep everyone who comes to them for refuge. Israel has their own laws about citizenship and should be allowed to decide who can stay and who must leave. No comment by the U.N. about Israel's humanitarianism in helping them get across Israel's border and helping them restore their health as they were beaten, raped, tortured...and those less fortunate who didn't make it, murdered by their Muslim brothers. Many of these Africans are also Muslim. DISGUSTING U.N.!!!

(40)
david severy,
April 30, 2012 2:41 PM

Israel is forever

The Bible is a very large and deep book. But if we pray, God will teach it to us, why would He not? I have learned that there are at least four covenants found in the Bible. One of them is with Abraham, and God made it a unilateral covenant of promise to Abraham that through Isaac the land of Canaan would given to him, (Abraham) and all his descendants through Isaac forever! Why is it then that the Jewish people did not live in the land for the most par of the last 2000 years? SOME DID! Though not many, some did. To understand the WHOLE story, includng the prophecies yet to be fulfilled, get a Bible, pray and ENJOY the revelation God can give!

(39)
Kerry,
April 30, 2012 12:14 PM

Haven't watched in years, thanks for the insight

Just send a complaint.

(38)
Beverly Kurtin,
April 30, 2012 10:30 AM

NEVER, EVER AGAIN

For 44 years I tuned in every Sunday night to watch 60 minutes. I put up with the football games going overtime, the golf and all the other sports. Today, Sunday, that came to a screeching halt
NEVER AGAIN WILL I WATCH THE ISRAELI BASHING PROGRAM.
I'm writing to their sponsors ( a friend is getting me their names) with the suggestion that the program has run its course.
Okay, Bob Simon has had it out for Israel for years, but Leslie Stahl? She ought to be kicked out of the tribe.
Last week's swipe at Israel, THE ONLY DEMOCRACY IN THE ENTIRE AREA was too much. Guys, go suck a lemon...I'll spend those 60 minutes in Torah study.

(37)
Beverly Kurtin,
April 30, 2012 10:00 AM

Never again

Today for the first ever, Irefused to watch 60 Minutes. I used to look forward to watching it from day one. NEVER AGAIN! BobSimon is a snake in the grass. I wonder what Leslie Stank getsout

(36)
Mike,
April 30, 2012 6:40 AM

Anti-Israel Campaign

Just know that the enemies of Israel are doing their thing, too.
http://thankyou60minutes.org/ That way CBS can say, "Oh, we must be fair and balanced -- we get a large response from the other side, too."

(35)
NEWK36,
April 30, 2012 5:03 AM

one assumption

I work under one assumption. 95% of the world (Jew and non-Jew) hates or dislikes Jews, period!!! It is next to impossible to change the mind of a prejudiced person. Anyone prejudiced and a hater of others should choke on their collective tongue when they preach hatred & prejudice.

(34)
Gil Bunim,
April 30, 2012 3:32 AM

Bob spent many years in Israel,Hi knows the truth!!!

CBS is not" free" any more! It bcame a politicalservice network,serving eavel powr, like the Media in Austria &germany In Hitler days. Wasting time waching & listning...

(33)
TMay,
April 30, 2012 3:01 AM

comment section of 60 Minutes -Christians of the Holy Land

Thank you for the excellent article. It is possible to go to 60 minutes and choose the program and to post comments that other people can view in addition to writing CBS I worry that comments made to 60 minutes executives can be deleted and not counted.

(32)
Julie Varon,
April 30, 2012 1:05 AM

My letter to 60 Minutes

After watching the piece on Israel and Christianity aired on 60 Minutes last week, I must say I am beyond disappointed to see how slanted a story can be. The stakes are high as you are talking about a country who has been working hard towards finding peaceful measures to coexist with it's neighbors, being falsely accused of aggressive behavior.
I've watch 60 minutes since it's inception and have looked to it's reports as reliable sources of information. I dare say that this has changed my opinion greatly. Talking about stirring up the pot!
Take a close look at the facts and you'll see the actions of the Israelis are all aiming towards fair solutions. It is a rare occasion that Israel isn't acting in a mode of self defence. The piece like the one produced by Simon once again put Israel in a defensive position. This time it's with words. Words can be almost as harmful as actions and almost as hard to recover from.
It is my hope that the producers of the show take a close look and find the "right words" to help unravel the damage that has been done with a retraction and sincere apology. Perhaps a reporter can take a look at the other side...or better yet get the a group of the peacemakers from all factions together to share their common
--
Julie Varon

Anonymous,
May 1, 2012 2:49 AM

Liberals Hate Israel

"I've watch 60 minutes since it's inception and have looked to it's reports as reliable sources of information." There's your first mistake. Since its inception 60 Minutes has been a biased, bigoted anti-Israel organization, the late Don Hewitt's contrary claimes notwithstanding. Mike Wallace and Bob Simon have both been anti-Jewish Jews throughout their careers, Mike Wallace as long ago as his bigoted, sneering questioning of Golda Meir on Nightbeat. No member of the liberal media has reputation any decent human being need respect.

(31)
Fred Stoll,
April 30, 2012 12:52 AM

CBS - Complete Baloney

Must be some serious Arab money flowing into CBS to account for their serious anti-Israel bias

(30)
Molly Koch,
April 29, 2012 10:22 PM

It's time for the truth.

It is heartbreaking to see the distortion of facts on 60 Minutes.

(29)
PARVIZ HAKIMI,
April 29, 2012 9:23 PM

I watched the 60 MInutes but unfortunately not all of it till later on also i read the article and saw the video. I am so sorry to see that 60 Minutes is so narrow mided and out of reality abiut Israel. I called 60 M. and left them a massage from a jewish person from a Muslem country that how wrong they are and they should study more about what is going on in Israel and Middle East,they might realy learn something. Parviz Hakimi

(28)
Anonymous,
April 29, 2012 8:19 PM

anti-Israel Again

This is political anti-Israel propaganda.

(27)
Anonymous,
April 29, 2012 8:07 PM

I understand the Jews need a country to call there own, but so do the palestinians. I am not anti anyone just looking for whats fair and right. I do not beleive 60 minutes or any news org. is anti Israel..If anything this country is dominated in many areas by Jews (you could say taken over) in the Art, In movie making,etc.,etc. Another unfair occurance is when an american states his opinion of Israel(and its negative) the whole of American Jews try to destroy him (or her).So Im to understand you cannot express an opinion if its anti Israel. Sad.

Anonymous...take a long, hard look in the mirror...YOU are an ANTI-SEMITE. But I didn't have to tell you this, you knew it already. Do the "Palestinians Arabs" need a homeland? They got one before the State of Israel was born...in 1929...it's called JORDAN. And the majority of its population are Arabs who lived in Palestine. Jordan is historically part of Israel. Historical Israel is much larger than it was carved out for the Jews by the British and others, but the Jews were thrilled to get any land to call their own.
I live in Israel and I go to the hospital, shopping and all around the place...the Israeli Arabs and Palsestinian Arabs live happy, free lives and are treated with humanity and respect. Any unfortunate Jews who still live in any Arab country live horrible lives...I know, I have friends from Arab countries who family remains there. It's hell on earth. An Arab is treated with respect in hospitals, whether they are patients or they work there as doctors, nurses and other staff. If a Jew needed medical care in an Arab hospital, they'd be killed before they took two steps in the door!

(26)
David S. Levine,
April 29, 2012 7:52 PM

Another Liberal Media Hatchet Job

Why should ANYONE be surprised any longer at these hatchet jobs by CBS (or ABC, NBC and CNN or the NY Times or Washington Pest).
The only way to effectively protest these hatchet jobs is to boycott the sponsors of these programs (letting them know why) and vote against their choices in all elections and it doesn't take an genius to know who their choices are--in fact you don't even what to wait for their editorials to be published.
These media outlest are, as Barry Goldwater put it about them 60 years ago, a rotten bunch!

(25)
Dr George,
April 29, 2012 7:20 PM

No matter what the Jews are to blame always...

You really have to understand the interview by Bob Simon...You see the Nazis had a way of vilifying the Jews by making them into greedy grasping selfish people...even the though the mass majority of European Jewery was the poorest in the world...Here in the 21st century....the twist and blood libels have a new element....today Christians who have persecuted the Jews for centuries have developed a conscience to the murder of millions of Jews....and now sprout the idea of the Messiah coming from the Jews and of course he will be Christian...so you can not vilify them (Jews) directly for killing their saviour....so they do the next best thing....saying it is the Jews fault for trying to protect themselves against Muslim extreme terrorists killing innocent Jewish children in a pizza shop....at the cost of inconveniencing a few Christians near a wall built for protection against the terrorist murderers....Are Jews murdering Christians ...never....but when Muslims do so...well you have to blame someone....well ....why not the Jews....so the Ambassador to the U.S. from Israel hearing how the program will be slanted that way...gets wind of it...he is visibly upset....more propaganda....just to sell a story and 60 minutes acting POLITICALY CORRECT.... How would you feel if someone threatened your family and the some innocent bystanders get hurt ....would you blame the people being attacked by the instigators of the violence....I don't think so....but here we are again....made to look like the bad guys because we try to defend ourselves....I wonder if the Muslims controlled Bethlehem etc....whether they would allow Christians to attend their churches at all....or like the Nazis did in the 2nd world war ....throw priests out of 3rd story building to their death....Dr. G.

(24)
Nate Boya,
April 29, 2012 7:04 PM

Agree with the Ambassador

I am 100% behind the Ambassador! I am 100% behind Israel!

(23)
stan D,
April 29, 2012 6:55 PM

Israel, is a becon modernity in a jungle of misanthropes.

Unfortunately, the miseducated of our world who have no knowledge of the accomplishments of the only democracy in the mid-east, Israel, have been bombarded by mis-information espoused by the Anti-semites.Imagine what this tiny natiion of lss than 6 million could have accomplished if it did not have to fight 5 wars initiated by those feudal countries that surround it.Fortunately, the World-wide Christain community has recognized the role Israel plays in protecting their holy sites.

(22)
judy,
April 29, 2012 6:28 PM

Why the media doesn't follow a middle road,

I cannot understand why Jewish journalists prefer to believe ill of Israel. Even though there record isn't perfect compared to other nations including the USA it would be at the top of nations holding human rights on the top of their governing list. It behooves me to understand why such a mass group of reporters see otherwise.

(21)
Arleen Greenwood,
April 29, 2012 5:50 PM

Here's a question!

Why do so many Jewish journalists attack Israel, it's actions and it's motives, harder than their non-Jewish colleagues? Is it to prove that they are non-biased? It makes my blood boil and my stomach turn!
I need not prove why Israel has done more to transform it's land and it's people, but is there to help other countries as well. I am angry that it must deal with hatred all around them...including the U.S. When our policies, here, become solely for selfless reasons, we can begin to criticize Israel....but not before others!

(20)
Michael,
April 29, 2012 4:58 PM

Ridiculous

If ambassador Oren really called sixty minutes BEFORE he even saw teh story, which is the only logically possible conclusion unless he is a time-traveller, then he is attempting to enforce "prior restraint" (something the US government is not even allowed to do except extreme circumstances - see Pentagon Papers) on a media in a country that ISN'T HIS. As King Juan Carlos once said so elegantly to Hugo Chavez, "Why don't you shut up?" Mr. Ambassador and let America have a free press? Maybe the report was biased, but the ambassador could wait until after it aired to file any complaint.

William W.,
April 30, 2012 12:33 AM

The writer Michael does not understand what "prior restraint"

Michael, you do not understand what "prior restraint" is and is not. The GOVERNMENT is constitutionally prohibited from exercising prior restraint EXCEPT in situations where the expression sought to be restrained presents clear and present danger, such as the time, date and place of the sailing of a troop ship in time of war. It does NOT even apply to private expression, such as the Ambassador's in this case. Freedom of private expression includes the freedom to criticize what others say. If the criticism is false the remedy is a defamation suit. The Ambassador's request that the broadcast be fair obviously did not impede Simon from expressing clear bias.

(19)
MIchael L Schwartz,
April 29, 2012 4:50 PM

Probably the most ffective means to have CBS change their reporting is for all to tell them they will stop watching "60 Minutes" until their policies change...and then follow through. This will "hit them" where it means the most, in their adverising since those rates are based on numbers of viewers.
Also, write to the major advertiers and let them know of your distress of the show and the show's supporters (i.e. advertisers).
Jews and Evangelical Christians, if united in a common cause, can be a "force to be reconed with."
I, myself, rarely watch "60 minutes" due to the "edited" interviews that are aired.

Aaron Rosloff,
April 29, 2012 8:42 PM

Once a story is issued the damage is done. The ambassador was trying to limit or if possible, halt the the issue of a biased story.

(18)
jennifer call,
April 29, 2012 4:43 PM

Media bias.

I just finished watching "Meet the Press" with David Gregory.Just like the 60 minutes piece, it is totally biased. NBC, CBS and ABC are totally supporting Obama and they don't even try to hide the fact anymore. Obama is the MOST anti-Christian, anti-freedom President in history and the ainstream media supports him 100%..It is totally sickening. He is demonstrably pro-Muslim so much so that he said in his fictional autobiography he wrote..if things turn bad I will stand with Muslims.

Anonymous,
April 29, 2012 8:01 PM

Simon, Gregory, non-Jewish Jews

Both Simon and Gregory are, like Leon Trotsky, non-Jewish Jews. They care not one whit about being Jews or about the Jewish people. Simon is not married to a Jewish woman and it would be unsurprising if he, Groeory, Mike Wallace, Leslie Stahl or any of the liberal media vermin of Jewish origin go out of their way to throw unjustified brickbats at Israel and their fellow Jews to shine their leftist credentials.
To say they they are beneath contempt would only be to raise their stature.

Anonymous,
May 1, 2012 3:09 AM

Don't know if it's true buti was taught that the chafetz chaim claimed león trotsky's mom could not afford or would not pay tuition for cheder

Wow, When you mentioned Trotsky i wondered how many of the CBS staff/ 60 minutes crew received any true Jewish education ?Where were the outreach efforts? I have no proof but the story is told that as a boy Bronstein[later Trotsky] was turned away from cheder/yeshiva cause his mom could or would not pay tuition. When he heard about it years later the Chafetz Chaim was upset with the Rabbi in charge, andstated "the Trotsky's make revolutions and the Bronsteins suffer the consequences"

Rachel,
April 29, 2012 8:30 PM

What's this got to do with the 60 Minutes story?

See, comments like this make me and many other liberal & moderate Americans think that many on the right are a bunch of nutty conspiracy theorists. Obama has had 2 Jewish chiefs of staff; he ordered the attack on Pakistani soil to kill Bin Laden; USG continues to monitor terror suspects -- but all people like you can do is jump from one story about 60 Minutes to bashing the entire mainstream media AND the President. That's what's "totally sickening".

Mitzi Jacobs,
April 29, 2012 8:44 PM

Totally false email from Jennifer!

I saw MEET THE PRESS and do not understand Jennifer's vindictiveness. David Gregory had an excellent program giving both sides ample time to make their poins. Shame on Jennifer to be so anti Obama and anti Israel!

(17)
Anonymous,
April 29, 2012 4:40 PM

Notice to all Israeli diplomats

Ambassador Oren, eloquent as he was while under attack, and perhaps because he was under attack ommitted to say the single most important sentence anyone can say in response to these accusations by Christians: He should have pointed out the clear, unequivocal fact that, in all of history, only under Jewish sovereignty have the holy places of all faiths been totally accessible to the adherents of those faiths unfettered. This should be repeated in every single interview with any Israeli official - as a mantra.

Shraga Simmons,
April 30, 2012 4:47 AM

Creative Editing

It is likely that the Ambassador DID say that. But CBS controls the editing process.

(16)
Anonymous,
April 29, 2012 4:38 PM

Bob Simon pointed out that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, lived in Nazareth and preached in Jerusalem (today referred to by 60 Minutes and others as "east" Jerusalem.. He forgot to mention that the reason why this Jewish lad was in those places was because they were Jewish places, in the land of the Jews. They still are. They always will be.

(15)
Daniel Cohen,
April 29, 2012 4:36 PM

A Chritian cleric, chosen by Bob Simon, pronounced (I paraphrase): " The ONLY thing ever to be exported from "Palestine" is Christianity".
First of all there never was in all of history any country called "Palestine". It was a label stuck on after the Romans exiled the Jews from Judea and Samaria. So the man was talking about Judea (present day Israel) when he "forgot" all about the basis for all of the civilized word's legal systems, the Ten Commandments, Jewish law, charity, social justice, the Sabbath, - shown to the world by Judaism - the religion of Jesus. Bob Simon let that pass unchallenged - which of course was the whole point of the program.

(14)
Ann C,
April 29, 2012 4:23 PM

U.S. Media--Bigotry and Distortions

My own apologies to people Israel for the distortions constantly emanating from U.S. media. It has become an industry where complete distortion of the truth receives high praise, especially when it involves Israel and, actually, Jews in general. Rabbi Simmons is correct in writing that there are tens of millions of Christians whose hearts are with people Israel.
Beloved Israel, G-d will bless those who bless you and curse those who do not.
PS: HE is your true "iron dome."

Anonymous,
April 29, 2012 8:03 PM

Ann, Remember on Election Day

"My own apologies to people Israel for the distortions constantly emanating from U.S. media." Remember that on election day!

(13)
Fred,
April 29, 2012 4:22 PM

Do Not Watch "Mainstream Media"

I stopped watching our so called "mainstream media" years ago. They are so slanted and biased it is unbelievable. They have been given orders not to mention Obama's fraud on the birth certificate issue and if someone does mention it they right away attack them. Alinsky method in action. The radical left have taken over our one proud medial and the agenda is to promote Islam and go against America. Also our media will not broadcast news about black on white crime, only white on black crime. This is very apparent and has been going on for many years. Certain crimes are hushed up. So it is no surprise that they are against Israel just like our so called "President" who is illegal.

(12)
Rabbi Jeffery Feinstein,
April 29, 2012 4:11 PM

60 Minutes Bias e-mail

I am copying, for your information, my e-mail to Jeffrey Fager.
Jeffrey Fager, Chairman of CBS News, Executive Producer of "60 Minutes":
In recent years the term "journalism" has been re-defined. Many in the media (and CBS is amongst this group) now believe that "because I say so" is an adequate standard for professional reporting. Your journalistic standards (if any remain) are so pro-Palestinian as to be laughable. Mr. Bob Simon's extreme disgust with anything and everything Israeli is not even veiled. He should be removed as a 'journalist' and re-enlisted as an op-ed columnist.
As a major source for information to millions of Americans you need to clean up your act.
Respectfully,
Rabbi Jeffery Feinstein

Anonymous,
April 29, 2012 8:05 PM

Fager Should Change His Name

Jeffrey Fager should change his name to "Forger," because his reports are, like the "Procols" forgeries.

miriam,
May 6, 2012 7:26 AM

Rabbi Feinstein, could you tell us...

What's Mr. Jeffrey Fager's email address? Nice email to him...I'd like to send one myself and encourage those on my email list to do the same. Thanks!

(11)
anonymous,
April 29, 2012 3:18 PM

60 MINUTES WAS RIGHT.

Israel has for decades controlled the US media through Jewish ownership. finally 60min tells the truth about apartheid Israel, who have over 700,000 palestinan men, women and children locked up in horrible conditions. Today, people in Gaza are starving to death, have no medicines in their hospitals...what you have done to the Palestinans are simply war crimes. YOU do not own or can steal the property of the Palestinans. You must abide by UN resolutions, and that means that Jerusalem will be the capital of Palestine. You hard right zionists are causing the world to hate you and your leaders like Bibi the terrible, lying about Iran, so you reap what you sow. The world has turned on you, you cant hide all th horror you have inflicted on a occupied people who have no army, navy, airforce and no means to fight back. Shame on you Israel. right on 60 minutes.

Al Chemy,
April 30, 2012 1:58 AM

Why not check the facts for yourself?

Tell that to the children that are camouflage for Hamas rocket launchers in their schools. Then check out how much aide Israel sends to Gaza. All paid for by Israeli tax dollars. Stop relying on the propaganda that is being fed to you by people that would blow up your children rather than feed them. Do you think a Moslem website would have let your comment pass if your opinion was the other way around? Wouldn't it be nice if Fox News or some other news agency with gumption did an expose on yellow journalists or at least on this report? Or perhaps did their own fact finding report. A good way to neutralize an acid tongue is with basic truth. All the Best

Anonymous,
April 30, 2012 1:28 PM

Poverty in gaza is hamas's fault, not Israel

Gaza is no longer Israel's responsibility since they evacuated all Jews to give up her own land to the terrorist Hamas group. Any complaints you have about conditions in gaza should now be directed at hamas. But that inconvenient truth doesn't fit with your anti-Semitic agenda, does it?

(10)
Anonymous,
April 29, 2012 3:15 PM

It's about time

This should br sent to CUFI members and they should be asked to pass it on. This deserves and needs to go viral.

(9)
Michael,
April 29, 2012 4:37 AM

Dear Rabbi Simmons, I am nearly lost for words after reading this.
This is the first I had heard of this. The A-mighty has given us AISH,com to bring to so many thing we would never hear of.
I really never did enjoy watching the program...I now have the real answer thanks to you RAbbi.
I must control my words ! But, when has Israel ever-ever shown bias to any religion?
I must close...reading this assault on Israel is without reason.
But we hear it all the time "The Jews control the media."
May G-d bless and sustain Israel and all the Jews in this most Holy Land.
PS: Pass the good Rabbi' article to all !

(8)
Anonymous,
April 28, 2012 7:28 PM

Brilliant

Thank you for this clear sharp rebuttal to another (yawn) round of Israel-bashing. And thank you for the email address of 60 Minutes so that we can convey our disappointment with their "journalism!"

(7)
Anonymous,
April 28, 2012 4:26 AM

CBS is doing a disservice to US thoughtfulness

Unfortunately, so much of journalism has been and continues to attract and hold readers by often dishonest rhetorical devices. The trend seems only to be growing as the public becomes even more jaded.
CBS could give the American public the balanced and thoughtful examination of subjects. It takes more effort and respect for your public. Please consider this.

Anonymous,
April 29, 2012 8:07 PM

Reflected Dhshonesty

"So much of journalism has been and continues to attract and hold readers by often dishonest rhetorical devices." And this is rfeflected in the politicians and political party these media outlets support!

(6)
Andy,
April 27, 2012 10:51 PM

Jews seem so divided against each other re Israel

I think that all those you mentioned working at at CBS News are Jewish. It seems to me that Evangelical Christians are allies with observant Jewry and a positive force in hastening the redemption. Rabbi Dov Fischer observed decades ago" Jews have far less to fear from Jews for Jesus than from Jews for nothing" Your article brings that to mind big time.

David S. Levine,
April 29, 2012 11:25 PM

Jews NOT Divided

Survfey after survey shows that Jews are NOT divided on Israel. It's just that leftists of Jewish origin who hate Israel are in and have access to the media which are also undivided institutions on Israel and America--they're against both.

(5)
Anonymous,
April 27, 2012 10:05 PM

Conclusion before story

60 Minutes does a great job of presenting a story based on the conclusion it wants you to draw. And they have the audacity to call this journalism.

(4)
Sojouner Christian,
April 27, 2012 2:03 PM

Peace is the way. Love is the answer. Harmony is the result.

"He who is not angry when there is just cause for anger is immoral. Why? Because anger looks to the good of justice. And if you can live amid injustice without anger, you are immoral as well as unjust." - Aquinas

(3)
Anonymous,
April 27, 2012 11:51 AM

Practical question

I often read terrific articles at Aish.com addressing current issues- but I'm frustrated to think that the authors are "preaching to the congregation". How, for example, can it be known if CBS, Bob Simon and American-Christian-Evangelicals also read this important rebuttal? Thank you.

(2)
Yocheved Golani,
April 27, 2012 2:43 AM

Bob Simon's Conveniently Short Memory

Bob Simon seems to practice selective memory efforts. I doubt that he's forgotten his imprisonment in Baghdad http://articles.latimes.com/1992-05-11/entertainment/ca-1182_1_gulf-war
Israel's government does not imprison people for practicing other religions. It makes sure that churches and Bahai temples are safe for residents and visitors to Israel. And despite bulldozers driven by sociopathic muslims murdering sraeli Jews, muslim bus bomebrs and mall exploders murdering more Israeli Jews, etc etc etc muslims are allowed to live and vote here.
Bob Simon has abused, distorted and hijacked reality let alone Am Yisrael with this recent conduct. He deserves to have his press pass yanked.

(1)
Bobby5000,
April 26, 2012 5:25 PM

typical 60 Minutes

Having a subject contact a journalist while a story is being prepared is extremely common. Indeed, the question of addressing a potentially biased 60 Minutes story was sufficiently common that many suggested interviews be independently recorded to rebut potential distortion or omission. My experience is that 60 Minutes, like a number of other media outlets, takes a story and portrays it to one extreme or the other.
Take lawsuits and injuries a common area for investigation. A typical story says something like this.
Attorney Slobotkin has 9 houses, 3 boats, a house in France and earned 19 million dollars suing doctors, little Jane Gordon, suffers from a debilitating neruological condition and has to travel 220 miles to a doctor because all the doctors in the area evacuated because they were afraid to be sued.
Or... ,- Dr. Ayud Sabani has been sued 23 times, his victims include patients with misplaced ambutations, botched surgeries, and debilitating spinal conditions. Yet he still practices, seeing 40 patients a day most of whom know nothing of his sordid past. We tried to find out why no one does anything, but the doctor wouldn't talk to us, the medical point refused to comment, and the medical society which defends him gave us nothing more than a 2 line statement.
The stories aren't mixed, it's one extreme or the other apparently because featuring a storyline or them is more important than fairly presenting the facts or issue.

My nephew is having his bar mitzvah and I am thinking of a gift. In the old days, the gift of choice was a fountain pen, then a Walkman, and today an iPod. But I want to get him something special. What do you suggest?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

Since this event celebrates the young person becoming obligated in the commandments, the most appropriate gift is, naturally, one that gives a deeper understanding of the Jewish heritage and enables one to better perform the mitzvot! (An iPod, s/he can get anytime.)

With that in mind, my favorite gift idea is a tzedakah (charity) box. Every Jew should have a tzedakah box in his home, so he can drop in change on a regular basis. The money can then be given to support a Jewish school or institution -- in your home town or in Israel (every Jews’ “home town”). There are beautiful tzedakah boxes made of wood and silver, and you can see a selection here.

For boys, a really beautiful gift is a pair of tefillin, the black leather boxes which contain parchments of Torah verses, worn on the bicep and the head. Owning a pair of Tefillin (and wearing them!) is an important part of Jewish identity. But since they are expensive (about $400), not every Bar Mitzvah boy has a pair. To make sure you get kosher Tefillin, see here.

In 1944, the Nazis perpetrated the Children's Action in the Kovno Ghetto. That day and the next, German soldiers conducted house-to-house searches to round up all children under age 12 (and adults over 55) -- and sent them to their deaths at Fort IX. Eventually, the Germans blew up every house with grenades and dynamite, on suspicion that Jews might be in hiding in underground bunkers. They then poured gasoline over much of the former ghetto and incinerated it. Of the 37,000 Jews in Kovno before the Holocaust, less than 10 percent survived. One of the survivors was Rabbi Ephraim Oshri, who later published a stirring collection of rabbinical responsa, detailing his life-and-death decisions during the Holocaust. Also on this date, in 1937, American Jews held a massive anti-Nazi rally in New York City's Madison Square Garden.

In a letter to someone who found it difficult to study Torah, the 20th century sage the Chazon Ish wrote:

"Some people find it hard to be diligent in their Torah studies. But the difficulty persists only for a short while - if the person sincerely resolves to submerge himself in his studies. Very quickly the feelings of difficulty will go away and he will find that there is no worldly pleasure that can compare with the pleasure of studying Torah diligently."

Although actions generally have much greater impact than thoughts, thoughts may have a more serious effect in several areas.

The distance that our hands can reach is quite limited. The ears can hear from a much greater distance, and the reach of the eye is much farther yet. Thought, however, is virtually limitless in its reach. We can think of objects millions of light years away, and so we have a much greater selection of improper thoughts than of improper actions.

Thought also lacks the restraints that can deter actions. One may refrain from an improper act for fear of punishment or because of social disapproval, but the privacy of thought places it beyond these restraints.

Furthermore, thoughts create attitudes and mindsets. An improper action creates a certain amount of damage, but an improper mindset can create a multitude of improper actions. Finally, an improper mindset can numb our conscience and render us less sensitive to the effects of our actions. We therefore do not feel the guilt that would otherwise come from doing an improper act.

We may not be able to avoid the occurrence of improper impulses, but we should promptly reject them and not permit them to dwell in our mind.

Today I shall...

make special effort to avoid harboring improper thoughts.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...